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UNITED STATES Ot' AMERICA. 



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JAMES A. eARFIBLB. 

(Late Presldeut of th« Unlte'l States.) 




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KiarlleM's lSiiMiii)liicc.) 



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In Im^pmoriam 



JAMES A. GARFIELD, 

(Late President of the United States,) 

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BY 

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Mrs. M. D. LINCOLN, 

U 

[Bessie Beech.) 




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i DEC 151882/^ 

F. J. BRAENDLE ^S^^o^ WASH>^*<g5 
PUBLISHERS: 
AVASIIINGTON, D. C. \'^), 



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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1882. by 

Mrs. ]M. D. Lincoln. 

{Bessie Beech,) 
In the Office of the Librarian, at Washington, D. C. 



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TO THE 



BRAVE AND DEVOTED 



LUGRETIA R. GARFIELD, 



WHOSE ENNOBLING VIRTUES WERE THE INSPIRATION 



OF A GREAT STATESMAN'S LIFE, 



THIS SOUVENIR 



IS DEDICATED BY THE 



AUTHORESS. 



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I love to believe that no heroic sacrifice 

is ever lost. 

James A. Garfield. 



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THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE 



HISTORY'S pages, through the ages. 
Will recount a story strange. 
As good sires round their fires 
Reverenily their thoughts exchange. 

Hoio a lad ivhose only birthright 

Was a widowed mother brave; 
She so strong, and true, and tender. 

Praying God her boy to save. 

He with tidy clothes grown threadbare. 
Plodding towards a suinmit grand. 

While he followed up the tow-path 
In this free and happy land. 

Mother praying, he obeying 
All tlf.e earnest woi'ds she said; 

He progressing, she directing. 
Watching where his footsteps led. 

Day by day he mounted higher. 
Fought his way to Fame''s reward. 

Till the Nation proudly gave him 
All that trust and right accord. 



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Campaign fires were burnimj brightl;/ 
On the liilltop, ihroiigh the vale. 

Every patriot doing dutij 

Said, '■'There's no such iconl as 'fail.' 

And the Nation stood tqj proudly. 

Every patriot side by side, 
Till we heard the echo ringing 

Through the country far and wide. 

Eoremost in the campaign struggle 
Stood our statesmen in the ranks. 

And they worked for James A. Garfield, 
And they have a Xation's thanks. 

Peace was reigning, triumph gaining. 
And the echo thrilled the land: 

Tlicy^re elected, ice'' re protected. 
Echoed on from strand to strand. 

Dost remember, Hwas November, 

On that grand election day. 
Grandma listened, tears they glistened. 

For 'twas James who led the tcay. 

March winds blowing, throngs a-going 
Where the chieftain took the oath. 

Turning proudly, broio so lofty. 
Kissed his wife and mother, both! 

Summer morning, not a warning. 

That eventful July day. 
Uappy hearted, Garfield started. 

Saw no danger in the way. 

Arm in arm with Blaine he started. 
Chatting as they passed along 

Of harmonious re-unions. 

Heeding not the busy throng. 

On the peaceful air of summer 
Whizzing came the fatal shot; 

Garfield fell, and terror-stricken 
Hundreds hui-ricd to the spot. 

From the depot back they bore him. 
Where he stood an hour before. 

On the threshold of the White House, 
.Vn«' to cross it ncrer more! 



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PART II. 
AT THE WHITE HOUSE. 



//, that ivcari/ day of watching, 
Oh, ihejyain of Ion;/ delay; 
''Is it time for Crete to get here ?" 
O'er and o'er he ashed that day. 

Whirling, flying, faster, faster! 

On and on the train was S2)ed, 
Till the fiery engine halted. 

And the track icas glowing red. 

Bid the wife and mother heed it. 
Heed the awful danger near, 

When the driving rods tvere broken, 
And the men were pale with fear? 

Seven 'tioas striking, fast the driving 
Of the foaming steed he heard— 

''Crete is coming,'"' hear the rumbling. 
And his lips in prayer were stirred. 

Oh. the sacred solemn silence. 
When the spirit quickly hears. 

And the years pass in a moment. 
When eternity appears. 



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Calml;/ from (he painful meeting. 
Forth the wife and mother came. 

And through weeks of grief and anguish 
She was alwaijsjust the same. 

Dying! shot hij traitorous villain! 

Garfield dying, did you say ? 
Paralyzed thej^eople heard it 

On that auful July day. 

Ah. not dead! long, long and weary 
Were the weeks he tortured lay. 

But a letter to his mother 

Wrote her hoy one summer day. 

''Do not be disturbed, dear mother. 

By reports you hear of me; 
It is true I'm iceak and feeble. 

But I soon shall stronger be. 

Only time and only patience 
Xow are needed, mother dear; 

They will bring me through the ordeal; 
Yon need have no anxious fear.'''' 

••I am weary, take me homeward; 

Back to Mentor carry me. 
Or beside the dear old ocean. 

By the glorious deep blue sea, 

I could rest and soon grow better,''^ 
Said the dying statesman brave; 

And they heeded his entreaties. 
After counsel sad and grave. 

In the gray of autumn morning. 

Forth from out the White House came 
Solemn men and anxious toomen 

Breathing James A. Garfield's name. 

Oh, the pathos of that picture! 

Oh, the look on that white face! 
Oh, the changed and altered visage 

That u-e saw in Garfield's })lace! 

Tenderly they bore him onward 

Through tlie hushed and silent street. 

And the flying train delayed not, 
Whilf his pulses quicker beat. 



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PART 111 



A NATION'S GRIEF. 



^lY the pallid face so weary 

Came a smile of calm content 
When he saw the grand old ocean, 
Where his eyes were eager bent. 

Soon, ah, soon, he icatched the glory 
Fade from out the sunset sun. 

And the moaning billows murmured, 
'•'■Ere the daicn thy race is run.'''' 

Not a last word ever speaking; 

Not a last good-by he said; 
Quick the summons, fierce the struggle. 

When the prisoned spirit fled! 

Ah, September, we remember, 
And the Natioii's heart xcas chill. 

Sad bells tolling, flags loic floating. 
For the statesman cold and still. 

Back beneath the Dome they bore him. 
Where the echo scarce had died 

Of his strong and buoyant footsteps. 
Firm in manhood's strength and pride. 



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Now embalmed in hearts forever^ 
Memo7'j/ brought here incense rare. 

And thejioivers that bloom immortal 
With, their fragrance cluster there. 

Through the ages history'' s pages 
Traced in martyrs'' blood must be; 

Deeds appalling with their warning 
Generations hence shall see. 

What were fame, or ichat were honor, 
Croivns or kingdoms, to compare 

With the sacrifice of Lincoln, 
Or the suffering Garfield bore 7 

Let our riders make the bulwarks 
Of this Government so strong. 

In defense of truth and Justice, 
Right may triumph over wrong. 

Shall this grand and glorious Union 
Retrograde to barbarous reign ? 

Xo! let statesmen shield our rulers 
With their honor once again! 

Flag and freedom, press and people, 
Guardians of our Xation be. 

Sacred trust hare all our rulers 
In this country of the free. 

Hero! peace to thee forever! 

Laurel-crowned by good and wise. 
Hearts a cenotaph tvill build thee 

Reaching even to the skies! 



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PART I. 

The People's Choice. 



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PART II. 

At the White fiousE. 



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PART III. 

The Nation's Grief. 



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% OFFERING. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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